Someone who has liberal views believes people should have a lot of freedom in deciding how to behave and think.
She is known to have liberal views on divorce and contraception.
Synonyms: tolerant, enlightened, open-minded, permissive More Synonyms of liberal
Liberal is also a noun.
...a nation of free-thinking liberals.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A liberal system allows people or organizations a lot of political or economic freedom.
...a liberal democracy with a multiparty political system.
They favour liberal free-market policies.
Synonyms: progressive, radical, reformist, libertarian More Synonyms of liberal
Liberal is also a noun.
Price controls go against all the financial principles of free market liberals.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A Liberal politician or voter is a member of a Liberal Party or votes for a Liberal Party.
The Liberal leader has announced his party's withdrawal from the election.
Liberal is also a noun.
The Liberals hold twenty-three seats on the local council.
4. adjective
Liberal means giving, using, or taking a lot of something, or existing in large quantities.
As always he is liberal with his jokes. [+ with]
She made liberal use of her elder sister's make-up and clothes.
Synonyms: abundant, generous, handsome, lavish More Synonyms of liberal
liberallyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Chemical products were used liberally over agricultural land.
More Synonyms of liberal
liberal in British English
(ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl)
adjective
1.
relating to or having social and political views that favour progress and reform
2.
relating to or having policies or views advocating individual freedom
3.
giving and generous in temperament or behaviour
4.
tolerant of other people
5.
abundant; lavish
a liberal helping of cream
6.
not strict; free
a liberal translation
7.
of or relating to an education that aims to develop general cultural interests and intellectual ability
noun
8.
a person who has liberal ideas or opinions
Derived forms
liberally (ˈliberally)
adverb
liberalness (ˈliberalness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin līberālis of freedom, from līber free
Liberal in British English
(ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl)
noun
1.
a member or supporter of a Liberal party or Liberal Democrat party
adjective
2.
of or relating to a Liberal party or Liberal Democrat party
liberal in American English
(ˈlɪbərəl; ˈlɪbrəl)
adjective
1.
suitable for a freeman; not restricted
now only in liberal arts, liberal education
2.
giving freely; generous
3.
large or plentiful; ample; abundant
a liberal reward
4. US
not restricted to the literal meaning; not strict
a liberal interpretation of the Bible
5.
tolerant of views differing from one's own; broad-minded; specif., not orthodox
6.
of democratic or republican forms of government, as distinguished from monarchies, aristocracies, etc.
7.
favoring reform or progress, as in religion, education, etc.; specif., favoring political reforms tending toward democracy and personal freedom for the individual; progressive
8. [L-]
designating or of a political party upholding liberal principles, esp. such a party in England or Canada
9. Obsolete
excessively free or indecorous in behavior; licentious
noun
10.
a person favoring liberalism
11. [L-]
a member of a liberal political party
SYNONYMY NOTE: liberal implies tolerance of others' views as well as open-mindedness to ideas that challengetradition, established institutions, etc.; , progressive, a relative term opposed to reactionary or conservative, is applied to persons favoring progress and reform in politics, education, etc.and connotes an inclination to more direct action than liberal; , advanced specifically implies a being ahead of the times, as in science, the arts, philosophy,etc.; , radical implies a favoring of fundamental or extreme change, specifically of the social structure;, left1, originally referring to the position in legislatures of the seats occupied by partiesholding such views, implies political liberalism or radicalism
Derived forms
liberally (ˈliberally)
adverb
liberalness (ˈliberalness)
noun
Word origin
OFr < L liberalis < liber, free < IE base *leudhero-, belonging to the people, free < base *leudh-, to grow up, rise > Ger leute, people, OE leodan, to grow
Examples of 'liberal' in a sentence
liberal
Without the strongest liberal democracy taking the lead?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She appears ready to become the most prominent defender of liberal values after his departure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But liberals mustn't think that political reform is enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Back in 1989 we thought we were witnessing the triumph of capitalism and liberal democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their drug of choice was Marxism and under its influence they argued that liberal democracy was a capitalist con.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To the left here was the last liberal leader standing, succumbing to tawdry populism to save her political skin.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I'm just a bit more liberal in my values.
The Sun (2017)
It will be liberal, reforming and proudly European.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She admits she could have done more to correct misleading reports that made liberal use of the phrase'flying solo '.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is as strong as a prize bull and he made liberal use of the bouncer.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This says less about their liberal values than their desire for profits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We have become more liberal and tolerant.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is just this case that we must deny to the economic liberal.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
Social liberals cannot stand by and see this voice fade.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The exam culture is part of a broader decline of liberal education.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Fresh or dried herbs should also be used in liberal amounts.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
They share my view that liberal reform should be conservative in timing and temper.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He will dance his way to a more liberal and tolerant society.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And it made the case for liberal economic purity harder to make.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Rather the more conservative and the more liberal social policies cut through eachparty.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
But he says that he hopes to go home and put his liberal education into practice.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Independence is a central liberal value.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The second was America as a promoter of liberal democracy around the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The change of sponsorship has been seen by some Russian liberal intellectuals a political move.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Liberal democracy is a fraud, a cover for the power of the elite.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The panel of experts is also packed with liberal lawyers, sparking fears of a whitewash.
The Sun (2011)
Not least, it is subversive of the intellectual foundation of liberal democratic society.
Kimball, Roger Tenured Radicals: How Politics Has Corrupted Higher Education (1990)
I think liberal capitalism is a great social good.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The decor is urbane rather than academic, with modern paintings on the wall and liberal use of a mushroom colour scheme.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The answer to that is the Liberal Democrats.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He then moved into politics, working as an adviser to the Liberal party.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
liberal
British English: liberal /ˈlɪbərəl; ˈlɪbrəl/ ADJECTIVE
Someone who has liberal views believes people should have a lot of freedom in deciding how to behave and think.
She is known to have liberal views on divorce and contraception.